Characterization of proteinaceous glues in old paintings by separation of the o-phtalaldehyde derivatives of their amino acids by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A HPLC-fluorescence method for characterization of proteinaceous glues from binding media used in pictorial works of art prior to conservation or restoration treatment is proposed. Fluorescence derivatization of amino acids released by acid hydrolysis of standard proteins is studied. The derivatization reagent was o-phtalaldehyde with 2-mercaptoethanol as catalyst. Mobile phase was a programmed gradient among two eluents (water buffered at pH 5.8 wit 5% THF, and methanol) and is able to satisfactorily resolve the amino acid derivatives in 45 min. Peak area ratios among amino acid derivatives and the leucine derivative are useful to characterize the proteins. The method shows good sensitivity and adequate linearity between 2.0 × 10⁻³ and 3.3 mmol/l of each amino acid, with a limit of detection of 6.0 × 10⁻⁴ mmol/l. The proposed method has been successfully applied to artistic samples from items of the cultural heritage of Valencia (Spain).     

Use of 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin for derivatization of pyrimidine compounds in serum analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

Derivatization of the pyrimidine nucleobases and nucleosides with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin was studied with the aim of developing a sensitive and selective column liquid chromatographic method for these substances in serum. The labeling reactions and the nature of derivatives are discussed, together with the chromatographic properties of these derivatives. The derivatives are stable for at least several weeks. Typical detection limits are 50 pg for inosine, 150 pg for uridine, 50 pg for uracil, 50 pg for thymine and 100 pg for fluorodeoxyuridine, respectively. Within-day coefficients of variation averaged 5.0% for the stored-frozen serum pools; the mean day-to-day value was 5.2%. Thirty samples could be processed per working day.     

Determination of fatty acids in vegetable oil by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

The effect of temperature and organic solvent composition (acetonitrile and methanol) on the reversed-phase separation of coumarin-derivatized fatty acids according to their carbon number (C14 to C22), the degree of unsaturation, as well as cis/trans (C18:1 c/t, C18:2 cc/tt, C18:3 ccc/ttt) configuration was investigated to find out the effective separation condition. Based on the linear plots of the logarithm of the capacity factor of saturated fatty acids versus their carbon number, the equivalent chain length (ECL) of unsaturated fatty acids was calculated. The ECL values were found to be significantly altered and the differentiation between cis and trans fatty acids was increased when either the temperature or organic solvent composition was decreased. These results generally led to a better resolution at the expense of separation time. A ternary gradient composed of water, acetonitrile, and methanol was then developed to elute the solutes at 55 degrees C within a separation time of 40 min with a minimum resolution of 1.0 for the worst pair. This method was demonstrated to resolve the fatty acids in a vegetable shortening.     

Derivatization of 5-fluorouracil with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin for determination by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A robust new analytical method has been developed for the determination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in human plasma samples using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The method is based on a liquid-liquid extraction procedure, precolumn derivatization, reversed-phase HPLC separation, and detection using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and selected reaction monitoring. The derivatization agent used was 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin. The internal standard for the assay procedure was a stable isotope labeled analog of 5-FU. The lower limit of quantitation was 1. 0 ng/mL using 500 µ L aliquots of plasma. Sample throughput on the mass spectrometer was approximately 17 samples/h (3. 5 min/sample). The method was fully validated. The recovery of 5-FU averaged 76. 1%. The accuracy of the assay, assessed from quality control samples, ranged from 99. 1% to 104. 3% (% theoretical). The overall interassay precision (% RSD) was 2. 7%, and the intraassay precision (% RSD) ranged from 1.5% to 3. 9%. The derivatized samples were found to be stable under sample analysis conditions and during refrigerator storage. The method was specific for the determination of 5-FU.     

Analysis of 5-fluorouracil in plasma by precolumn derivatization with 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin, followed by multi-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography

An assay for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been developed that utilizes a double extraction with ethyl acetate, followed by precolumn derivatization with 4-bromo-methyl-7-methoxycoumarin. The reaction mixture was quenched with 5% acetic acid, extracted with hexane, and analyzed by multi-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography. Derivatized 5-FU was injected into a cyanopropyl column and a heart cut containing the analyte was then switched to an octadecyl column and quantitated by fluorescence detection. The assay had a limit of detection of 0.5 ng 5-FU/ml plasma and was linear to 20 micrograms/ml. It was shown to be free of interferences from the other anticancer agents commonly used in combination with 5-FU. This assay should have the sensitivity needed to measure the low levels that occur after low-dose, continuous infusion of 5-FU.     

Application of 4-methyl-7-methoxycoumarin derivatives to the high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of fatty acids

Summary A high pressure liquid chromatographic method of fatty acid analysis has been developed using the fluorescent label, 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin. Two simplified procedures for derivatization using sealed reaction vessels allow derivatization of volumes of 200 to 500 mm³ and 2 to 5 mm³ respectively.     

Identification of lipid binders in paintings by gas chromatography. Influence of the pigments

The influence of the presence and the type of pigments in the lipid binding media of paintings were studied by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. The drying oils were linseed stand oil, poppy oil and sunflower oil, and the pigments studied were cadmium red, cobalt blue, tin white, lead white, chalk and plaster of Paris, commonly used in paintings. The results indicate that the stearic/palmitic ratio and the presence of pigments are quite stable during ageing. However, some differences in the oleic acid/palmitic acid ratio were found, depending on the type of pigment present in the lipid binding media. These variations are related to the drying effect of the pigments. The proposed method has been applied to the identification of drying oils in two samples from baroque paintings in the "Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados" of Valencia, Spain.     

Determination of fatty acids in fish oil dietary supplements by capillary chromatography with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

The 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin derivatives of 14 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, including the omega-3 fatty acids, were separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and detected by laser-induced fluorescence. Baseline resolution was obtained by using a high-efficiency packed capillary column with 240,000 theoretical plates, together with a systematic optimization of the mobile phase composition. The retention indices of the fatty acid derivatives correlated well with a predictive empirical model, showing accuracy better than 0.46% relative error and reproducibility better than +/- 0.1% relative standard deviation. The physiologically important fatty acids with 12-22 carbon atoms and 0-6 double bonds were determined at the femtomole level in fish oil dietary supplements by using this methodology.     

Highly sensitive determination of free fatty acids in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

Endotoxins from four bacterial species extracted by three different procedures were acid-methanolyzed and the methyl esters of the fatty acids were analyzed by packed-column gas chromatography. There were qualitative and quantitative differences in the fatty acid profiles of the lipopolysaccharides isolated from four Gram-negative bacteria. Our data show considerable lot-to-lot variations in amounts of four methyl esters from the same bacterial serotype extracted by the same procedure and in the same bacterial serotype extracted by different procedures. These results indicate that extraction and perhaps culture conditions, as well as bacterial species, affect the fatty acid composition of endotoxins, hydrolyzed and derivatized by these procedures.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of femtomolar quantities of endogenous carboxylic acids, including arachidonic acid metabolites, as 4-bromomethyl-7-acetoxycoumarin derivatives

A major limitation of high-performance liquid chromatographic techniques for measuring biologically active eicosanoids has been the inadequate sensitivity of most on-line detection systems. In addition, the availability of a technique suitable for measuring small quantities of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) in plasma would allow longitudinal studies of plasma levels of these lipids in small animals. To improve the sensitivity of detection, the compounds with acyl groups containing carboxylic acids were derivatized with the highly fluorescent compound, 4-bromomethyl-7-acetoxycoumarin. All classes of NEFA and arachidonic acid metabolites, including the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products, and hydroxy acid compounds could be derivatized with this reagent. The derivatized metabolites were separated with a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic system using a radial compression column and a gradient elution technique. Reproducible measurements of plasma NEFAs from as little as 5 microliters of plasma, and femtomolar concentrations of eicosanoids, could be detected using an on-line fluorescent spectrometer. This improvement in sensitivity should permit the quantification of all eicosanoids, including the leukotrienes, in biologic fluids and the longitudinal measurement of changes in plasma NEFA levels in small animals.     

Determination of fatty acids by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection using precolumn derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of fatty acids in seed oils. The method was based on precolumn derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate as a labeling agent and fluorescence detection. Fatty acids were extracted from the samples and subjected to derivatization with the reagent at 60°C for 10?min. The chromatographic separation of 14 fatty acids (C10–C22) was achieved on a combined loading compression octadecyl sulfate (CLC-ODS) column with a run time of 30?min. Three-step gradient elution of a mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water was used, and the signal was monitored at excitation and emission wavelengths of 265 and 315?nm, respectively. The method indicated favorable sensitivity and reproducibility for fatty acids’ derivatives. The detection limits, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, were 0.01–0.05?µg/ml and relative standard deviations (RSDs) were less than 0.27%. Excellent linear responses were observed with coefficients of 0.9995. This method was applied to quantify fatty acids in white, brown, and black sesame seeds’ oil.     

Determination of 4-hexylresorcinol in shrimp by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method was developed to determine 4-hexylresorcinol in shrimp meat. The procedure is based on extraction of test portions with methanol followed by liquid chromatographic analysis of the extracts, using a reversed-phase column and fluorimetric detection (excitation: 280 nm, and emission: 310 nm). The confidence interval of the recovery in working range of 1.5-2.5 mg/kg was 81.6 +/- 0.8%. The relative standard deviation in the working range was 2.1%. Limits of quantitation and detection were 6.59 and 1.98 ng/mL extract, respectively, corresponding to 0.26 and 0.08 mg/kg in shrimp.     

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of oils and oil binders in paintings

A GC/MS procedure has been developed, optimized, and applied to characterization of oil binders in paintings. The procedure involves hydrolysis of lipids to fatty acids (FAs) and derivatization of FAs to fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) by a solution of sodium methanolate in methanol at an elevated temperature. FAMEs are analyzed by temperature-programed GC followed by full-scan MS. Old and dried samples are subjected to extraction of nonpolymerized FAMEs into dichloromethane prior to hydrolysis. The method provides a good repeatability of results and has been applied to the characterization of common plant oils used in paintings, to commercial oil and tempera paints, to model painting samples, and to samples taken from real paintings. The fresh oils and binders can readily be identified and characterized. The ratio of the methyl esters of palmitic and stearic acids can be used to characterize oil binders in old works of art.     

Simple and highly sensitive determination of free fatty acids in human serum by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A highly sensitive and simple reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the quantitative determination of free fatty acids in human serum is presented. The method is based on the direct derivatization of serum fatty acids with 6,7-dimethoxy-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinoxalinone-3-propionylcarboxylic acid hydrazide. The derivatization reaction proceeds in aqueous solution in the presence of pyridine and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide at 37 degrees C. The resulting derivatives are separated within 75 min on a reversed phase column (YMC Pack C8) with a gradient elution of aqueous acetonitrile and detected fluorimetrically. The detection limits are 2.5-5 fmol in a 10 microL injection volume. The sensitivity permits precise determination of free fatty acids in 5 microL serum. The method is simple and is without the conventional liquid-liquid extraction steps of serum fatty acids.     

Determination of sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) in biological samples as its 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin derivative by RP-HPLC

A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection is described for the determination of sodium monofluoroacetate (MFA-Na) in biological samples. 4-Bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin is used as a derivatization reagent and reacted with MFA-Na to form 7-methoxy-4-methylenecoumarin monofluoroacetate for HPLC analysis. Chromatographic separation is performed on a Hewlett Packard RP-18 column using methanol-water (60:40, v/v) as the mobile phase. A fluorescent detector is employed with the excitation and emission wavelengths as 319 nm and 390 nm, respectively. The novel method yields a good linear relationship when the concentration of MFA-Na is within 1 and 500 nmol/mL (r = 0.9996). The detection limit is 50 pmol/mL. The established method is applied to determine MFA-Na in biological samples. The recovery rates of MFA-Na are between 81% and 88%, and the relative standard deviations are less than 5%. The method shows good sensitivity and selectivity for the determination of MFA-Na in biological samples.